Among the fastest growing health problems in secondary school children are sex-related infections. The aim of the study was to determine the attitude and belief of secondary school students in rural secondary schools towards sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The cross-sectional survey was used to study 398 students who were within the age range 14-19 years. A questionnaire (attitude α = 0.879, belief α = 0.868), called STI attitude and belief questionnaire (STIABQ), was used to collect data. Out of 398 copies of the questionnaire given out, 396 copies (99.5% return rate) were utilized for data analysis. Spearman Brown correlation coefficient, percentages and means were used to describe the data. Regression analysis was adopted to check how the independent variables predicted the dependent variables. About 51.8% of respondents were males and a little below two-thirds were 14-16 years old. Students had positive attitude (2.54 ± 0.46) and belief (2.30 ± 0.71) in overall and in most attitude and belief statements. The relationship (r = 0.181) between attitude and belief of students towards STIs was low. Sex predicted attitude but did not predict belief towards STIs significantly. However, age did not predict attitude but predicted belief significantly. Males and older age significantly predicted attitude and belief. Our findings underpin the need for a universal health education programme, focusing on social and mental health education that might strengthen attitude and belief of recipients, even though they demonstrated what could be labeled positive attitude and belief towards STIs.
Keywords: Belief, attitude, infections, secondary school students, sexually transmitted
